Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been complaining on the campaign trail about the "dual taxation" of city residents, stating at last week's debate that "Chicago is the only municipality that pays twice for teachers' pensions: one for our teachers and the one for...

In an effort to help voters make their final selections on April 7, the Oak Park and River Forest League of Women Voters will sponsor a Candidates Fair. The event will feature those running for seats on the Oak Park Elementary District 97 and the Oak Park...

As Illinois lawmakers came to an agreement last week on a short-term fix of the Illinois budget, a sigh of relief could be heard from the Glencoe Village Hall, but School District 35 may take a hit.
To get the state through the rest of the budget year...

Smoker's Corner at Elgin Community College has become history — along with smoking almost anywhere else on campus.
Indoor smoking at the college, like that in most Illinois public buildings, has been banned for years. But Monday was the day a...

Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois legislature agreed last week on a budget to get the state through the end of the fiscal year, but both short and long term questions remain regarding any potential impact on Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
As part of the pact that was signed by the Republican Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, cuts will affect education funding, among other places. But local officials do not know yet if Lake Forest and Lake Bluff will not be getting as much money as...

Having worked for his father in the days before Illinois required car dealerships to be closed on Sundays, Jack-Son Auto Sales business manager Brian Landsverk recalls what customer traffic was like before the 1983 ban.
"Sundays were a little slower," Landsverk said. "Back then, we'd run with just a salesman in the building — one person. On any other given business day, we'd have a staff that's full, and that would be 11 people (between) office and service and sales.
"But we'd only have just one...

The Illinois Attorney General's office sued the owner of a Chicago remodeling company almost 30 years ago, accusing him of taking money from property owners for work that was either shoddy or never done. Without admitting wrongdoing, Mark Diamond agreed to change his ways.
But authorities say Diamond merely changed up his scheme, continuing what amounted to a nearly three-decade career of scamming hundreds of people — primarily poor, older and African-American — with home repair and mortgage-...

To help voters differentiate among the four candidates running for three seats in the April 7 election, we asked them these 10 questions.
Why are you running for trustee?
What is your education and professional experience, and does it give you any particular expertise you would use on the board?
What other civic and volunteer experience do you have?
Why would you be a valuable addition to the Morton Grove village board at this time?
What are the top issues facing the village?
How would you...

The Village of Niles Board of Trustees urged the state government not to cut the village's share of the state income tax.
Under Governor Bruce Rauner's budget proposal, the local share of the revenue from the state income tax would be reduced by a half. The village has argued that the decrease would cost the village to lose $1,475,248. During its March 24 meeting, the board approved a resolution urging the governor and the Illinois General Assembly to reconsider.
While most of the board spoke in favor...

Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth announced Monday she will run for Senate, giving Democrats a top-tier candidate in a must-win seat in 2016.
"I'm running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it's time for Washington to be held accountable, and to put Illinois families and communities first," Duckworth said in a video announcing her candidacy.
National Democrats say Duckworth's profile is the best match to take on Republican Sen. Mark S. Kirk, a moderate Republican who is running for his first re-...